Latest news with #CitySchoolDistrict
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Horace Mann prepares to say ‘farewell' to Principal Peter Stewart
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – The end of the school year will mark the end of an era for two veteran elementary school principals in the Binghamton City School District. Peter Stewart at Horace Mann and Dave Chilson at Roosevelt are both retiring. We sat down with Stewart to reflect on what he thinks has made Mann a place where kids love to learn. On the last Friday of every month, Peter Stewart holds a whole school morning meeting with parents and guardians invited. 'It's a gathering, like a family gathers at a dinner table, so that everybody knows that we love them, they matter and we're going to take good care of them. So, that's why we do them,' said Stewart. Wednesday marks Stewart's final morning meeting at Horace Mann, retiring after 18 years. His philosophy has remained consistent throughout. 'You will hear me say this over and over again, and I've been saying it since I started my career in education, is that you have to put relationships first,' said Stewart. 'It is really all about building great relationships with kids,' said Stewart. 'It's really about getting to know them. It's really about inspiring them.' Stewart added, 'It's really about letting them know that they matter. And I think once you do those things well, then the academics fall into place.' Stewart grew up in the Bronx, where he started his teaching career. After moving to his wife's hometown of Binghamton, he taught at MacArthur Elementary before becoming an administrator in the Sidney School District and then Horace Mann. His morning meetings promote school spirit and pride, build self-esteem, and focus on good character traits such as respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. 'Kids feel safe, kids feel nurtured, kids feel loved, and so if you start with relationships, then attendance is not even an issue,' said Stewart. Stewart is one of very few Black school administrators in our area. He wishes more people of color would pursue a career in public education. 'Kids need to see what they can become. It's unfortunate that we don't have as many Black principals, Black administrators or just people of color to help inspire our kids,' said Stewart. Stewart says he enjoys reconnecting with past students and hearing about their favorite Mann memories, such as the 100-book reading challenge, the birthday lollipops, and other student celebrations. 'This school has been integral in terms of really, really tying this community together. There's a lot of teaching and learning going on but there's also a lot of love going on too here,' said Stewart. Stewart says his career began as a substitute teacher, and he fell in love with the kids on Day One. A love that has never faded over his decades of service. Stewart says he's ready to move on to new challenges and isn't certain of what his future holds. On Thursday, we'll speak with Dave Chilson, the longtime principal at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary, who is also retiring at the end of the year. Horace Mann prepares to say 'farewell' to Principal Peter Stewart Ponies clinch 11th straight win on Baseball and Education Day Healing After Loss helps community members cope with grief Auchinachie donates $1,000 to Whitney Point Civic Association Celebrate the anniversary of Schoolhouse No. 4 with free tour Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Read to Succeed Buffalo branching to Niagara Falls schools
The Niagara Falls City School District is looking for senior citizens to help elementary students read. Read to Succeed Buffalo, an AARP Foundation Experience Corps program operating in Buffalo since 2016, will be expanding to Bloneva Bond Primary School on Niagara Street starting next school year. SCHEER: Want to help a Falls school student? Volunteer to read Dr. G. Lawrence McNally didn't want to stop providing medical advice to children and their parents. The program wants to bring 10 to 20 people ages 50 and older to help improve the reading skills of kindergarteners, first-, and second-graders. 'The promise is, from the district, you will be welcomed,' said Supervisor Mark Laurrie, encouraging people to become volunteers during the program announcement on Friday. 'You'll be accepted. You'll be supported, and you'll work with great kids from Read to Succeed.' After the volunteers complete a two-day training session in September, they will start working with students in October. A literacy coach supporting the tutors curates a library of read-along books they and the students read. The helpers meet the students individually twice a week for 30-minute sessions for every week of the school year. Read to Succeed is eying between 30 and 36 students to participate, who are arranged to be taken out of English or language classes for their sessions. Anne Ryan, the executive director of Read to Succeed Buffalo, said that by the end of the third grade, 78% of Niagara Falls students are not reading at that grade level, with two-thirds of fourth-graders across the state not reading at that level. Studies were done to show that tutoring like this has provided gains in student learning, with all the participating students in Buffalo schools last year improving their reading ability, reading fluency, and social and emotional learning. 'Even if they (the outcomes) weren't great, they appreciate the one-on-one mentoring that these adults provide,' Ryan said. Read to Succeed is looking to have 10 volunteers each at Bloneva Bond and Henry J. Kalfas Elementary on Beech Avenue, remaining only at Bloneva Bond if they get less than 10 to 12. It is looking to expand to the district's other elementary schools in the future. G. Lawrence McNally, a retired pediatrician, has been volunteering at Buffalo schools since 2023 after hearing from one of his wife's friends who also volunteers. He has found the experience very rewarding, with students he works with calling him Dr. Lars. 'It was really rewarding to see all my first graders be below the benchmark, and by Christmas. ... they were all doing more at a first-grade level,' McNally said. The school district is using some of its Title I funds to bring this program here. Those interested can look further at
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Community rallies around family after Bay Village lacrosse player dies
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio (WJW) — The heartbroken community of Bay Village is still reeling after the death of 16-year-old Dylan Veselic, a student-athlete who died Thursday morning after suffering a traumatic injury during a lacrosse game on Tuesday. This tragic situation has deeply shaken the Bay Village community, but there's also a lot of good being done to support the Veselic family. Bay Village lacrosse player dies after critical injury during game Tributes are building across the city, with residents placing lacrosse sticks on their front porches in memory of Dylan. The multi-sport athlete was injured Tuesday during competition. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, but Veselic passed away early Thursday morning, according to the Bay Village City School District. Friday's boys lacrosse game was canceled, as players, coaches and the community continue to grieve. Boys soccer coach Bobby Doughtery posted a tribute to Dylan on his personal Facebook page, writing in part: 'With a broken heart, we — few, we happy few, we band of brothers — must say goodbye to one of the most beautiful souls to walk among us. Dylan, rest in peace. You will be missed more than words can ever express.' The community packed Saint Raphael Catholic Church for an emotional prayer vigil Thursday night. Candles burned through the night in honor of Dylan. As tributes continue to grow, so does support for the Veselic family through a Meal Train fundraiser that has quickly surpassed $85,000. The campaign has meals covered through the first week of June. Community members said they're trying to raise as much money as possible to help the family cover expenses during this extremely difficult time. 'It's devastating,' Bay Village parent Dan Griffin said. 'I mean, having kids who play sports, it kind of hits home.' Griffin, whose two sons play lacrosse, is supporting the 'Sticks Out for Dylan' campaign. 'It's just showing support and being a part of a community,' he said. 'I mean, that's what you need to do. We don't know the family, but we want them to know that we're here for them.' Bay Village community holds vigil honoring student who died after lacrosse injury USA Lacrosse, the national governing body for the sport, also responded with a statement: 'USA Lacrosse extends its deepest condolences to the family, teammates and friends of Dylan Veselic. We, along with the entire lacrosse community, share in the pain his family and friends are feeling. We have reached out to a school official to learn more and offer our support.' The organization noted that deaths in high school lacrosse are extremely rare, with only two reported in boys' competition over the past 40 years. 'We will share any learnings from this tragedy with our Sports Science and Safety Committee to determine if there are any actions we can take to improve player safety,' a spokesperson wrote in an email. FOX 8 News spoke with a dozen or more people within the community, and while most didn't feel comfortable speaking on camera, all shared the same message: Their hearts are with the Veselic family and they want to support them however they can. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bay Village community holds vigil honoring student who died after lacrosse injury
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio (WJW) – The Bay Village community came together Thursday night, still reeling from the tragic loss of Bay High School student Dylan Veselic, who died after an accident during a lacrosse game. Family members, teammates, friends, parents and the Bay High School community packed St. Raphael Catholic Church for a prayer service and vigil. The service was led by Fr. Dan Schlegel, the pastor at St. Raphael Catholic Church, who said the Veselics are members of the church. Community rallies around family of Bay Village student who died following lacrosse injury The teen was injured during a lacrosse game at Olmsted Falls on Tuesday night and was hospitalized in critical condition. The Bay Village City School District shared that he passed away Thursday morning. The sudden and unexpected nature of his death has left a community in shock as they try to come to terms with this unthinkable tragedy. NE Ohio Catholic leaders 'rejoice' following announcement of new American pope Flowers and Post-It notes cover his locker at school and families of student-athletes are laying lacrosse sticks outside their front doors to show support for the Veselic family. The school district has been making counselors and specialists available to families and students to work through their grief. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Huber Heights schools facing $7M in cuts if levy fails this Election Day
HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) — Huber Heights City School District says the district is currently operating in a deficit, prompting an operating levy that could pull them out of the red. The district says the last time they had an operating levy request on the ballot was 20 years ago, but with rising costs and extensive cuts at stake, leaders say its now time to put it to a vote again. How Ohio counts voters' ballots on Election Day 'It is part of a long term financial plan to make sure our district remains not only fiscally responsible, but we're able to be solvent for the years to come,' said Jason Enix, Huber Heights superintendent. On Tuesday, Huber Heights residents will vote on a 6.9-mill operating levy that would generate $7.8 million to help the school district cover its day-to-day expenses. 'We're not looking to fund any new programs. This is not anything more than just trying to maintain our current status,' said Enix. 'It's a lot of our salaries and benefits for our staff. It is our regular expenses of paying our paying bills, taking care of curriculum, resources, all the things that make the district operate.' If it passes, the levy would cost residents about $242 a year for every $100,000 of appraised property value, leaving some residents torn. 'I think it's important, and I want the kids to get a decent education. My kids went to school in Huber,' said Mary Starry, local resident. 'That sounds kind of like a big increase though, so I'm going to have to ponder on that.' If the levy does not pass, the district will be force to make over $7 million in cuts. 'That includes teaching staff across the district. That includes a decrease in pay and potential loss of administrative support across the district, facility use, rentals being eliminated,' said Enix. Enix says these cuts will ultimately affect Huber Heights students. 'It would be a major strain on the system. It's unreasonable to expect the same level of resources and supports across the district when you have $7.3 million loss, and that's approaching nearly 10% of our operating budget,' said Enix. This issue will be on the ballot on May 6 for residents in Huber Heights. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
